who doesn't love some fiber art? the striking colors and amazing textures add much needed dimension to basic, oh-so-boring walls.
the team at a lovely lark outlined some fab examples (pictured), sourced from the following retailers.
images via a lovely lark

apartment dwellers and indecisive homeowners can finally rejoice - removable wallpaper is here - and no, we're not talking about those cutesy "dream" script word stickers a'la easy, that have been littering the blogosphere for the past few years - we're talking modern, geo prints in striking colors and unusual placements. inspired? i am.

i'm a super major fan of living walls - and this one I spied at the new Whole Foods in Austin (Domain) - while i was in town, recently - is one of my favorites. i adore the new spin on the geometric design and the use of novelty moss varieties

those of you who follow the blog, know i have a slight obsession with all things "Barbara Hill" - the Houston-based design superstar; the subject of many-a "Dwell Magazine" covers and inspiring spaces. this home, in the remote west, texas art haven called "marfa," is not only one of Hills' works - it's her own vacation home. The property, a former dance hall, is a single room of awesomeness - to be interpreted as you see fit. enjoy and be inspired. for more on the renovation of this property, stop over to dwell.

let's talk about these sculptures-turned-screen prints via artist Phillip Low...how amaze are they? these will be the perfect addition to a few of my blank walls that i haven't been able to commit to, especially by the super-duper sale price over at MNZ store!
images via mnz store,

my friend megan introduced me to the work of belgian designer geers van severen, via pinterest, and i just about lost my mind. his spaces incorporate some of my favorite elements, to include: plywood, indoor-outdoor living, succulents, mirrors and small pools...what's not to love?
images via design boom

are you dying as much as I am? this light stick is amazing - the perfect, dramatic complement to borrring white walls. i spied it over at anthropologie last week - and, evidently, so did the good folks at remodelista, attributing the original to designer Dan Flavin (space designed by Harriet Anstruther) and the new piece via Christopher Sheldon.

Amber B. Dianda and I were stoked to pay a visit to the Silverlake apartment + studio of her friend, artist Mark Whalen. Upon entering the space, blooming jacaranda trees, leafy palms and agave plants welcome us into the 1930′s spanish style building he shares with his girlfriend Jen. Once inside, french doors immediately beckon us to the sun-drenched patio – a space complete with a classic rusty bbq meat smoker (a recent Craigslist acquisition he found in South Central LA) bertoia chairs and potted succulents – perfect for summer bbq’s. The bright, comfortable, contemporary space is equal parts living and studio- that it’s no wonder the Aussie native spends more time here than at his dedicated downtown studio just a few miles away…

In chatting with Whalen, his warm engaging tales are as mesmerizing as intricately detailed paintings. He began his art career as a celebrated graffiti artist (aka Kill Pixie) in his motherland of Australia- eventually traveling and doing graffiti + street art around the world – until he decided it was time for a change. The prolific artist changed his trajectory, turning his talents to canvas full time. His grid-like paintings are collected and admired world wide, with an upcoming show (featuring the series pictured during our visit) called “Like Minds” at Black Art Projects in Melbourne, Australiaand another this fall at future perfect in singapore.

Many thanks to Mark Whalen for sharing his space, and to Amber for the amazing photos!

last week, the lovely amber b dianda and i had a chance to stop by the SOCO Collection + OC Mart Mix in costa mesa, california. a contemporary epicenter of design emporiums, including the largest Design Within Reach, ever, the plaza straddles the balance of local start-ups (birdie juicery), inspiring home and garden accessories (inside out 365), DIY terrarium classes (rolling greens nursery), gourmet culinary essentials (surfas), and glam contemporary showrooms (pal + smith), (fixtures living). not sure when to visit? consider swinging by on saturday mornings for the organic farmers market and food truck festival- yum.

A visit to Heather Roth’ s inspiring Salvage Design Co. Studio in Huntington Beach, Ca is an amazing example of the juxtaposition that makes southern california so unique. The Maine native’s collection of reclaimed objects, tables, light fixtures and wall boards is both equal parts historical east coast classic and quintessential, casual, california cool. Her studio neighbors include surfboard shapers and glassers (par for the course in a town known as Surf City USA), while Roth’s pieces hail from seasonal barn visits to estate sales and flea markets in her native Northeast. Once the pieces return to the California studio, Roth embarks on a multi-step proprietary distressing process to bring out the natural layers of the wood- a process she likens to buying a fixer-upper house, sanding the siding only to discover how many paint jobs (and owners) the home had previously. The result is a hand crafted process with layers of perfectly-imperfect rich historical woods that truly redefine Salvage Design.

For more information on Heather Roth’s Salvage Design Co., visit her website~ here!

a visit to artist chad eaton’s downtown LA live-work loft yields many surprises; upon entering, one is immediately welcomed into his own TIMBER! woodsman world…

a onetime garden seed factory, chad’s home features rich cherry wood floors and an original exposed brick wall – the lone remnant from the building’s industrial heritage- is festooned with taxidermy and flea market finds. Vintage currier & ives books dot the wood slab coffee table, while a small collection of tsotchkes; scout and indian patches, state parks pamphlets and antlers share space with his in-house silk screen press (chad screens the tees in-house, for his uber-popular TIMBER! apparel collection, as featured on etsy.)

a prolific illustrator with a penchant for pen & ink media, chad opens an antique wooden map drawer filled with original drawings…recent subjects include his signature dapper top-hat clad man, a grizzly woodsman complete with mile-long beard as well as his ever-present nature references. in chatting with chad, it’s hard not to notice his infectious smile – he lights up when asked about his favorite pieces and inspiration for his characters – that it’s hard to imagine him following any other trajectory than the journey he is on today.

chad muska is one of those ridiculously dynamic energies that’s hard to pin down; skateboarder, artist, designer, DJ…titles don’t really matter, what does matter is that chad muska is a creative force to be reckoned with. in addition to being ridiculously nice, like, “hey, can i help carry those big boxes for you down the hall” (true story, when i worked for one of his sponsors) nice, chad seems eternally grateful, and incredibly humble- despite all of his talents and success. his LA abode demonstrates the same lo-key sensibility; creamy tufted barcelona chairs share space with his signature contemporary artwork, while paint cans and drippings from past works unite to make the studio floors as striking as the pieces that grace the walls. with dream-worthy views of the hollywood sign, this iconic space serves as ground zero for all things that inspire the one and only chad muska.